This n' That...

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

During the next couple months, I am directing my attention to my household. I have many tasks at hand these days, getting ready for our move! WE ARE MOVING! Which means...cleaning stuff up, organizing, purdging, packing, unpacking, garage sales, and of course; the everyday normal life stuff!

I'll give another go at this in a few months when things get back to "normal".

Friday, May 28, 2010

You son, to me personally are the most wonderful-amazing-beautiful creation inside and out! I could never say in words how much I adore you and who you have become in these 7 short years! And who I know you WILL become! You are smart, actually BRILLIANT would be a better choice!

You are comedian-funny!

Your a good friend.

People are drawn to you! You have a magnetic personality (like your mama)!

You are talented in so many ways!

Your can carry a tune and are a great singer!
Whatever sport you pick, you do your best!

You are stubborn & bull headed (like your dad), and SOOOOO caring and loving all at the same time.

You are and AWESOME big brother!

Your sweetness consumes you!

YOU ARE TRULY SPECIAL -- One in a TRILLION BILLION MILLION!!!! Your smile, makes me smile! You make my world a better place and I know you do the same for everyone that knows and loves you!

I LOVE YOU Wy J Lowry!!!...TO THE MOON AND THE STARS AND ALLLLLLLL THE PLANETS...and beyond and beyond and beyond and beyond and beyond and BEYOND!!!!!!! I look forward to watching you grow and grow and grow and continue to become the little-big person you are becoming! I will never forget the minute you came in to our lives! I am so very proud of you and feel so blessed that God gave you life and made me your mama!!!

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day, or I can't stay awake past 9:00 pm is probably the better explanation!

I will be back in the swing of things hopefully soon...when things settle down with the new job...sports...end of school...birthday parties...household PURGING...garage sales...and MORE LIFE CHANGING DECISIONS BEING MADE!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

I found her on Ebay...which lead to stalking her blog (for like two years now.) She started as an amazing seamstress...leading into her passion for photography!

This talented lady I am speaking about is JENN COOPER!
She is now a full time, highly motivated and very popular LOCAL Kansas City Area photographer!(mega eye candy on her blog!). Also a mom of 3...soon to be mom of 4 as they have decided to adopt and are trying to raise money to adopt a child from Ethiopia! Getting her back in to the sewing business on ETSY.

Her Etsy shop, Take a Bow creations, is FULL if gorgeous goodies that she makes and all of the proceeds go toward bringing their baby home.

Jenn has generously offered a $15 gift certificate to her Etsy shop to a lucky winner!

Take a peek at some of her amazing creations. I covet both her talents...sewing and the photography! Totally worth checking out!...NOW GO TAKE A PEEK and BUY SOMETHING!

Friday, April 09, 2010

THAT ONE WORD = A NEW DIRECTION for The Lowry Family! And welcomed whole-heartedly!!! Thank you Jesus!!
Anyone who knows us (and actually reads this), knows that we have been in a financial struggle for several years now. From the start of when Lance went to work for the Railroad until present, things have seemed to be an uphill battle financially. ...and the "rest" naturally follows!

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He has always done what he needs to do, to WORK. Everything he sets out to do...job related, he puts his all into it. He's a natural sales person and very good at what he does. He adapts to pretty much any situation.

A few years ago Lance decided to get out the Kitchen and Bath Cabinet business..and try something else that had better benefits and heavier paycheck (eventually). The thought of more money and great retirement benefits, he chose to work for the railroad. That was short visited... Working for the railroad didn't work out...they chose to let him go for "failing to pass a color blind analysis test". Lance then got back into Kitchen and Bath Cabinet Sales. Started working on his own, freelancing his service. It seemed at that time, a very good opportunity and it was rather successful for a short period. About a year, it was GREAT; but we were still playing catch up from the year before! And then...the market fell and all heck broke loose on my husband's job situation. We've been through 3 cabinet companies in less than two years! All full commission...and in a very POOR world! He - WE have finally decided to call it quits in THAT WORLD!!

He gave it his all, doing all he could to stay with it. He was doing what he knew and quite honestly what he was really good at and what he ENJOYED doing! Lance has always done what ever he had to do to provide for our family. But to do so, it meant having to juggling 3, sometimes 4 jobs at a time. All so we could barely "get by" and sometimes not even that. On top of his full time sales job, there is the officiating basketball, softball, baseball and then there is the mowing! All equals a very tired husband/daddy and quite honestly a very "missing in action" one.

SO TODAY...RIGHT NOW...All I can think about is....MY HUSBAND GOT THE JOB!!!! It all started with a comment we both made on Facebook:
"(Husband) Looking for employment, let me know if you know anything or anyone hiring"!

A few weeks went by...nothing. And then a friend of ours, emailed Lance that one of her friends posted a job opportunity and if he'd be interested. From there..Sheryl recommended Lance to the girl that did the post and that girl referred Lance to who he will now call his boss! In less than a week...through a referral from Facebook, Lance was set up to do an interview with her and the girl sales rep that he will be replacing. The interview was held here at the Marriott by the airport.

It was a rather...what I call extensive interview process. He was suppose to give a demonstration during the interview and that he forgot about until the day of...so he winged it. Gave a demonstration on "Teaching a child to hit off a Batting Tee"! Obviously, something my husband knows like the back of his hand and apparently very good at...because he "knocked their socks off" so to speak. Definitely WON them over. I'm not completely sure how many interviewed but from what they said to him...he blew them away and they were very impressed with his presentation and how high his confidence level and ability to speak in front of a group was. YEAH LANCE! I always told you, you sell yourself short! I knew you could do it! ;)

WyoTech is what Lance calls the "Ivy League of the Automotive World"! He now has a HUGE opportunity Recruiting Kids to, what we have been told is the #1 Automotive College in the US. Apparently it's one you will hear about on those car shows they have on T.V.!...or so I've been told...I don't watch those said car shows! Guess I might now. Momma has a lot to learn.

BASE is in California. I think the Home Office is in Santa Ana...or maybe it's in Tempe, AZ? Tempe is where the New Hire packet was UPS'd to us from. Funny story: The new hire packet came BEFORE he was told he had the job! They were suppose to wait until his background check was done! ha-ha. Anyway, I obviously, haven't researched all this enough to have it all figured out. But the SVP of HR is in California. He was suppose to have a phone interview with him last night but the lady (his boss) called Lance around 9 pm and said it wasn't necessary..."if she liked him...it was a go! and he got the job!"

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He officially starts the 19th, ironically enough that is our 7 year Wedding Anniversary! The first week is a WEB based Training. He will get BASE + commission (eventually). He will be given a laptop computer, a phone and car allowance! The commission happens slowly as he is paid on that as the "students graduate". The course for the students is I think...19 months. His territory is Northern Missouri...I don't really know the specifics on that either. His boss is close to the Colorado border....again, not real sure the specifics. :) He will be based out of our HOME (oh joy) and that in itself will be an adjustment *hmm-umm, clearing throat*! There is always WiFi at Starbucks, Borders and Panera! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA. ANYONE THAT KNOWS LANCE...KNOWS he would NOT be caught dead in a Starbucks!...or probably Borders for that matter. Now, Panera...they have food, so probably that might work. :) We'll have to figure all this out and maybe come up with a way to make an office out of the basement...SOONER than later!

The second week, he will have a week training in California. Then a week training in Wyoming. THAT...STINKY POO's for ME...but I'll HAVE to overcome that, right?...afterall our life is going to be on a way better path! I have to admit I'm a little "jealous" since we haven't had a vacation since we first started dating, which was in CA, 12 years ago...and quite honestly...the thought of him enjoying a little "off" time without me, without us...in CALIFORNIA...sucks bad - in my head. Even though I know better and it's not really a "vacation"...but those feelings are there!

Afterall, I'll be here doing what I always do, PLUS SOME MORE! The car pooling to and from school, ball practices and baseball games! The kid raising, laundry doing, ebay listing, house picking up, washing the dishes, yard mowing, bath giving, bed making, phone answering, dog letting out and normal everyday stuff. None of that stops for me. With that said...*SMILE*...I AM EXCITED beyond words for what my husband has accomplished by getting this job and PROUD PROUD PROUD of him with all my heart and being! And I WILL OVERCOME him getting to go "away" and SUCCEED, though probably complaining about it! Cut me a little slack...K?

So Lance, honey...I probably won't say this again (maybe I will)...but through all my pouting and tantrum throwing, which I will try to keep on the inside...remember...I/WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU AND SO HAPPY WE ARE MAKING THIS CHANGE! Thank you! Thank you for being you and doing what you are good at and thanks for doing it for all of us here at the home front. We appreciate you and what you are doing. I know in that big head of yours...you are "scared", though you will never admit it to anyone. I know you are "nervous". But I also know you are proud and excited! I say to you and your mad selling skills...you will be REALLY GOOD at this and hope it's something NEW you enjoy doing! Here's to our new step and here's to succeeding at it! XO CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Never forget..."I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me!"

We have been so blessed with family and friends praying for us! So a shout out to those that have been with us through this journey and thank you for being a part of it! I still ask you kindly, to keep the prayers flowing as this is just the first step...and it's a big one! :) GOD IS AMAZING! And he really does move "mountains"! I believe whole heartedly that HE absolutely with a doubt had a hand in this change. It is needed and welcomed graciously! Of course, I have to thank FACEBOOK too...(hee-hee)!

Monday, March 29, 2010

Okay...So, I know I am no expert. An I know my editing skills are very much on the amateur side. BUT, the rules for this contest state clearly, ANYONE can enter, so I thought I'd give it a try.

There are so many BETTER photographers than I and I'm not even sure how I'm suppose to choose. So...I decided to pick a B&W shot that I recently did of KJ that stands out in my mind as one of my all time favorites. I think the photo is a bit "dramatic". Just look at that face, his expression, his body language. Everything about this photo "talks". How he's holding on to his pants; to keep them from getting in the stream. The location -- all boy! This was captured in a split second moment and I love everything about it.

So why not? Here we go. Wish me luck!

Be sure to stop by their blog and take a peek at some of the other entries:

Silly ol' me...

I am a BLESSED mama of 2 beautiful and in my opinion perfect kiddos! THEY are what make me happy...them and shopping! I am a wife, although probably not a very good one at times. I am a Christian, and not very good at that either. I'm always striving to be more in control of my Faith and what it REALLY means to be a "true" Christian. I'm also ALWAYS craving to be a better Photographer! I've loved Photography since I was a little girl. Making a moment stand still or permanently embedding it into a memory I will never forget. I'm a little complicated...but not really. :) Definitely a DEEP thinker and probably a little air headed! Take it or leave it...it's me. Keeping this blog gives me an outlet. I like to keep my family and friends updated in the happenings of our little family and thought this might be a good way to do it!